Exploration of southern Sask. leads to award for Regina filmmakers

A group of Saskatchewan filmmakers has taken home an "unanticipated" win at the Yorkton Film Festival.

The filmmakers behind Motus were given the Ruth Shaw Award for Best of Saskatchewan film on Saturday at the festival's award show.

Producer Allan Roeher said they didn't anticipate the win because the film is so different from their usual style.

"Our film is a visual exploration of southern Saskatchewan, so it's not your typical narrative or even documentary where there's like dialogue or voice to tell the story," Roeher said.

"It's all just imagery, sound and music."

Exploring southern Saskatchewan

The film was about exploration for Roeher and cinematographer Mike Maekelburger. The team, which also includes editor Chris Miller, all graduated from the University of Regina's film program in the past five years.

The team has been travellingto unique areas around the province for the past four years, including Castle Butte, the Great Sandhills and numerous other spots in southern Saskatchewan.

All that work came together to form the film, which is about 13minutes long.

"There's definitely lots of beauty to capture in this province and we're definitely proud of the images we were able to capture and also where we're from," Roeher said.

Hopefully when people see this film it inspires them to go out and travel a bit more and find some of these gems for themselves.- Allan Roeher, Motus producer

The exploration doesn't stop there for the team, though.

Roeher said they've already started filming the sequel to Motus, and this time hope to show off more of what northern Saskatchewan has to offer.

The hope is that the film inspires its viewers to do some exploring of their own.

"Hopefully when people see this film it inspires them to go out and travel a bit more and find some of these gems for themselves."

Four other films nominated

Motus was up against four other Saskatchewan films in the province for the award: A Chance to Speak, Alexander, Assini and Dancing the Space Inbetween.

Roeher said the win was an exciting moment.

"We had some friends and family there, so it was fun to share that moment with them."